Motion picture camera



July 28, 1936.

P. J. BERGGREN 2,049,041

MOTION P ICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet l Per JofiahBeryyren,

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGREN MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original'Filed June 4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Per Joh anBeryjren IN V EN TOR A TTORNEYS.

July 28, 1936.

P. J. BERGGREN MOTION PICTURE CAMERA l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 4, 1929 Per Johan Berygr-en.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGR EN 2,049,041 v MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 R 8 Pa- Johan Bcryyren INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY July 28, 1936. p, J. BERGGREN 2,049,041

MOTI ON P I CTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4, 1929 i 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 wrney 8 fien'Joimnae ken July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGREN v 2,049,041

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 .Z'izverdon Perv/01102119613772):

July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGREN MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4. 1929 l2-Sheets-\-Sheet '7 Per .TohdnBctyyren.

' IN V EN TOR.

I 3 ATTORNEYS;

July 28, 1936. P.- J. BERGGREN 2,049,041

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA .Original' Fild June 4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 P8! Johan I INVENTOR.

0- A TTORNEYS.

July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGREN 2,049,041

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June 4, 1929 12 Sh eets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEYS. 7

July 28, 1936. P. J. BERGGREN' 2,049,041

' MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June; 4L, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 I A TTORNEYS.

\ 4 Per JqhahBeryy-en.

July 28, 1936.

P. J. BIERGGREN MOTION PICTURE CAMERA Original Filed June .4, 1929 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 far PefJbhaLn Berglgrem 1 INVENTOR. 'By Ala/ 2% ATTORNEYS.

'25 the motion picture cameras.

f 'tures taken and also Patented Julyf28, 193s U TED STATES PATENT ori-ice I Q I nilo'non 1:2 :32; can I v Johan Bum-en. New York, N. Y.

Application June 4, 1929. Serial No. 388,352 Renewed Jlme'21,'1834 'I 8 This invention relates to motion picture cameras. I The. object of the invention is to provide a motion picture camera, the structure of which is 5 nlmpleand emcient. I A further object is to provide means (in amot ion picture camera for eillciently and properly ,focussing the photographic lens, as well as the finder lens. I

A further object is to provide means to counteract the offset relation of the finder lens with reference to the photographic lens.

w A further object is to provide a motion picture camera, in which are produced pictures of larger I area than are thepictures heretofore and ordinarily made for motion picture purposes, thereby securing an enlarged projection of the picture upon the screen thereby increasing the visibility of the projected pictures. 3 I I a A further object is to pro de an improved'shutter structure and the operation thereof forimotion picture cameras. I I k A further object is to provide animproved drive gearing structure for operating the shutters of I A further object is to provide an improved control-,mechanism for the shutter drive gearing," whereby the degree 'ofopenlng of the shutters may be adjustably varied and controlledmanually as well as automatically. I

A further object is'to provide a shutter control mechanism which visually displays to the operator the relative, relation of th shutters to each other at all times during the operation of the.

camera. 1 I I I :A further object is to provide safety devices for the automatic shutter control.

[A further object is to/provide an improved bear ln g structure for the shutter operating shafts to 40 permit and facilitate rotative as well as end-wise I sliding movement in either direction atthe same" time. I

A'further object is to provide a counter mechanism for accurately counting the number of piethe footage of film consumed in the operation of the camera.

' A further object is to provide an improved structure of mm feedapparatus for motion picture cameras."

A further object is to provide improved means -I foraccurately'and uniformly positioning the film with relation to the aperture. I A further object is to provide means foradlusting the'position of cnemm; or theportion .Ahereof exposed to the aperture, with accurate correspondence and relation to the teeth of the film feeding sprocket. I

, A further object is to provide improved means in a camera to prevent outward bulging or move- {ment 'of the flhn, or the portion thereof exposed l A further object. is to provide a movement cas-' ing which is adjustable so as to adjust the movement mechanism with relation to the aperture and aperture plate.

A further object is to provide a camera adapted go for use in connection with the taking of pictures of larger area than has heretofore been deemed, desirable or. practical. I

A further object is to provide means for accommodating a surplus of film length between 25 the aperture plate and the intermittent sprocket.

Other objects will appear, more fully hereinafter. "The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative so arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and shown in the accompanying drawings, and flnallypointed out in the appended claims. I

In the accompanying drawings,- I 35 Figure 1 is'a view in top plan of a camera embodying the principles of myinvention, the positions of the photographic and finder lenses, when, shifted, being indicated in dotted lines. I

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

.3 is a view in front elevation of the same' showing the slide plate carrying the photographic and finder lenses with its guide and limit stops indicated iri dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig; 3 with the front .plate of the casing removed to disclose the shutters and a portion 'of the gearing for driving the sameif v .I I

FigT5 is a view in rear elevation. of the camera. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5' with therear.

, casing plate removed to disclose the gearing.

Fig.7 is a view similar to 1, somewhat enlarged, with the film magazine removed.

m. 's. is a view in side elevation, of the film so movement side of the camera, the side wall of the casing being removed.

Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section on the line A, A, Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of the opposite side of the camera, the casing wall being removed showing the gearing and control mechanism for the shutters.

Fig. 11 is a view in vertical transverse section on the line B, B, Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a broken detailed view in section showing a portion of the shutter control mechanism.

. Figs. 13 and 14 are detailed views in elevation, of the tell-tale or dial indicators for indicating the relative adjustments of the shutters.

Fig. 15 is a view in section on the lines C, C, Fig. 18,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 16 is a view in section on the line D, D, Fig. 18, looking in the direction of the'arrows.

Fig. 1'7 is a detailed view in elevation of the movement box with the front plate of the camera casing removed.

Fig. 18 is a similar view with the front plate of the movement casing removed.

Fig. 19 is a detailed view in isometric perspec tive, illustrating the structure and mounting of the film registering devices and their actuating cams.

' Fig. 20 is a view in rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a broken detailed view in isometric perspective of the film clamping plate, its mounting and cam for actuating the same.

Fig. 22 is a view in rear elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a detailed View in section, on the line E, E, Fig. 26, illustrating the relation of the aperture plate, the film, and the film clamping plate, in clamping relation with respect to each other.

Fig. 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23, illustrating the film plate, the film, and clamping plate, the latter in displaced relation with respect to its clamping position.

Fig. 25 is a similar viewin section on the line F, F, Fig. 26, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the clamping plate in clamping position and the actuating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 26 is a view in rear elevation of the clamping plate. I

Fig. 2'? is a view in section on the line G, G, Fig. 28, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing a modified structure of clamping mechanism.

Fig. 28 is a view on the line H, H, Fig. 27, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 29 is a view in horizontal section illustrating diagrammatically the compensation for the curvature of field of the lens system.

Fig. 30 is a detail view similar to Fig. 25 showing a slightly modified form of aperture and clamp plates.

Fig. 31 is a similar view showing means to apply a variable pressure in the operation of the clamp plate.

Fig. 32 is a broken detail view in section on the line J, J, Fig. 6, through the shutter control mechanism. g

Fig. 33 is a view in section on the line I, I, Fig. 32.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout:

the several views.

In my application for Motion picture project ing apparatus, filed December 20, 1928, Serial Number 327,200, I have shown, described and claimed a motion picture projecting apparatus adapted for use in projecting pictures of enlarged area.

The present invention relates more particularly to a structure of camera suitable and adapted for taking pictures of enlarged area for use in said projecting apparatus, and for increasing the visibility and distinctness of the projected pictures, and of the figures and images composing the same, without impairing the photographic quality thereof. the projecting apparatus referred to, a film is employed which is of increased area or dimensions over films heretofore ordinarily employed in taking motion pictures. That is to say, the area of the portion of film on which the individual pictures are taken is of increased or greater dimensions than is the area of film ordinarily used or exposed in taking motion pictures.

It is among the special purposes of the present invention to provide acamera in which larger areas of film than heretofore employed are exposed in taking the individual pictures, although the principle of my invention may be equally well employed in connection with films of ordinary dimensions.

In employing films according to the practice heretofore commonly employed the usual dimensions of each individual picture have been threequarters of an inch in height and one inch in Intheuseof width with sixteen exposures or pictures to each foot of film..

In the use of the camera embodying the principle of my present invention, I propose to employ an area of exposure of a film so as to produce therein a picture of one and one-eighth inches in height and two inches in width with sixteen exposures for each one and one-half feet of film, thereby securing a fifty percent increase in the height and one hundred percent increase in width of each individual picture, as well as an increase in footage of film of three-eighth! of an inch for each exposure, thereby producing with the camera a greatly enlarged picture for each exposure, and hence securing the benefits and advantages of a greatly enlarged picture when projected on to the screen. This means a greatly increased visibility of the pro- Jected picture and increased distinctness of the figures and objects composing the same.

In carrying out my invention, in one form of embodiment thereof, I employ a casing indicated generally at 30, within which is mounted the shutters and their operating and controlling mechanism, the movement and its enclosing casing, and the film registering and clamping devices, and other features which constitute features of my invention.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the magazines II, 32, are carried by a suitable supporting bracket mounted and clamped upon the top of the cas ing 30, in the usual or any suitable or convenient manner. The structure of magazine or film take up is shown, conventionally, asthese de- 70 lens and also a finder lens, the figure or scene 78 to be photographed located .1 focussed through thefinder lensbefore the exposures are made .-with the photographic .lens. It is neces- 'sary, however, that the photographic lens be focussed as accurately; as the finder lens. To permit the proper focussing of thetwo-lenses I propose, in accordance with my invention, to carry both lenses on a common support mounted to slide with reference to the casing of the camera, so that either one can be brought into alignment with thelline of focussing sight of the operator, which ordinarily, is disposed at one side of the normal line of ,the photographic lens. To accomplish this result, therefore, I provide for the shifting ofthe common support for the two lenses so as to bring first the finder lens into theproper focus and then can shift the photographiclens into the line of finder sight for corresponding focus adjustment. This may be accomplished in various ways.

I have shown a simple arrangement wherein I the photographic lens II and the finder lens 24 are both carried upon a plate llsee Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted to slide transversely across the front end of the. camera casing in guides indicated at 36, Figs. 2 and 8. Any suitable means may be provided 1dr limiting the slid ing movement of the lens carrier support 3!.

A simple arrangement for accomplishing this result is shown wherein a slot indicated in dotted lines at 31, see Fig. 3, is provided in the support 3!, which slot engages a detent device indicated at}. mounted. on a convenient adjacent part of the camera casing. The length of the slot 31 is such that when the detent 38 brings up against one end of said slot, the .two lensesllffl, are

in their relative positions for use, while pictures are being taken, and ,when the support 35 is drawn outwardly in its guides 36 till the other end of the slot "brings up against the detent 30,, then the photographic lens 31 is brought into line with the line of sight through the finder box, as indicated for instance in dotted lines in Fig. 1. when the support 35 is in a position shown in Fig. 3 for use of the camera, in taiging pictures, said support may be solidly and tightly held in place in any convenient manner, as, for instance, by means of 'ascrew or other lock device, indicated at 39. The finder box is indicated generallyat 40, see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

It frequently becomes desirable to mask .the aperture of the finder, as wellas that of the photographic apparatus, and sometimes it is desirableto reduce the volume of light admittedtothe-photographic aperture in taking a pic- .ture. To accomplish this, I propose in accord.

ing'll, see Fig. 2, which extends transveesely I across the front fendof the finder box l0 and ance with my invention, to provide a slot or openof the camera casing. This slot'is adapted to receive a-mas king striporlight filtering strip, which. when inserted in said slot, will serve the" purpose of masking the film and finder apertures or difiusing'thelight entering the finderbox or the photographic aperture.

L In the use of a motion picture camera, the ob ject or scene to be photographed 'is ordinarily sighted by the camera operator through the finder.,.box aperture. The line -of-vision of thee]:- .iect or fscene through the finder box and lens,

' ;.;iiowovo is at an angle tothe line of exposure of. the object through the photographic aperture andlens. -Thisjis'due to the necessity for I I I v the gearm'ember' ll may beeffected inmany dif ferentways. haveslwwn a simple, eiiicient of! setting the finder box to one side of the line portant,intheuseofacamera,tobring image in the finder into equal framing space relation with respect to the image of the photograph lens. This is particularly true in the case of close-up work; that is in the case of taking pictures or objects, scenes, or images, at a distance of from say ten to fifty feet away from the camera. h To compensate and counteract for the inclined or tangential position of the finder lens with relation to the actual position of the photographing lens duringthe time of use of the camera, I provide means for adjusting the image'framingof the finder box.

In Fig; 6, I, have shown an arrangement for effecting, the compensation referred to. As shown a pin indicated at 42 is connected to the image frame 43 of the finder, and extends through a slot or opening in the wall of the finder box, the protruding end of the pin extending into a cam slot indicated in dotted lines at 44, formed in a rotatively movable member ll. Hie knurled nut ll may serve for rotatively actuating or moving the cam member 45. Bysuitably rotating the cam member 48, the image framing member I of the finder may be adjusted so as to bring the position of the image in the finder into proper framingrelation with respect to the line of ex posure of the image or object to be photographed through the photographic lens. I: desired. a 80,

suitablescale may be engraved or otherwise applied to the cam member ll to facilitatethe'adjustment of the finder frame to any particular distance away of the camera fromther'object or image to. belphotographem'as indicated at I. a v

maintained, either manually or automatically,

vary the area of shutter opening as exigency of use may. require, as wellas the duration of the shiitter "opening, and/or of the closure of the shutter opening. In carrying out this part of my invention, I employ a main operating shaft indicated at ll which is suitably mounted'withvin the camera casing 30 andadaptedtobe driven, either manually or by motor, as may be desired. In the particular'arrangeinent shown, to. 'which. of course, my invention is not to be limited or restricted, the main shaft 41 extends transversely within the camera casing 30. Mounted within the casing is a' lo tudlnally extending shutter operating shaft 4 which is suitably geared to and driven frond-he main shaft 1,!8

for example by means of theintermeshinggears as, see Figs. 9 and i0.- Carried by tn shaft is isa nur gear 50, which is mounted upon theend of saidshaft ll, and which meshes with and drivesa gear member ll mounted upon'a reduced portion of a tubular shutter operating shaft l2. Suitably-mounted upon the gear memher is the shutter member "which I would refer to as the inner shutter member.

- mounting'of-this shutter member or disk upon I a compact arrangement wherein the central hub portion of the inner shutter 53 is shown thickened or enlarged as at N and is received upon it short inner hub extension of the sear member If, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The outer peripheral edge of the inner shutter member 63 is engaged in an annularring member 55 which serves to receive and hold the shutter against displacement or bulging, and also as a balance member for the inner shutter disk. The peripheral edge of the shutter member 53 may be conveniently swaged into an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the ring member 55. The hub ring, SI, of the inner shutter member 53, may, of course, be secured in its mounted position upon the gear member 5| in any suitable or convenient way, as by means of rivets or otherwise. The outer shutter disk member 56 is suitablyfsecured to a cap, member 51, which is mounted upon to rotate with a shaft 58, which extends longitudinally through the tubular shaft 52, and which is driven through gearing from the main shaft 41 as will be more fully hereinafter described. The cap member 51 is held between a screw head 59 and gear member 5|. If desired a lock nut 60 may be interposed between these members 51, 5!, to serve as a retainer for holding the gear member if against its bearing shoulder on the shaft 52, or the adjacent ball bearing 6! for the shaft 52.

As shown the two shutter disks 53, 56 are each in the form of a segment which extends through an annular space or distance of 180, and as usual, these disks are so relatively arranged and operated that their cut-away portions are brought into register with each other across the line of exposure to the film through the photographic lens.

In order to secure the best results in the operation of the shutters under varying conditions encountered in the use of motion picture cameras, it is exceedingly desirable to provide means whereby the shutters are rotatively adjustable relatively to each other with great accuracy, so as to vary the area of the registering openings therethrough, and hence varying the duration of the exposures. The simple and accurate control of this adjustment in motion picture cameras is of exceedingly great importance.

For rotatively actuating the shaft 5| which carries the outer shutter disk 56, I extend the inner end of said shaft 58 through and beyond the in ner end of the outer shutter shaft 52, as indicated at 62, Figs. 9 and 10. Upon this extended portion of the shaft, which, in the form shown, is preferably square, I mount the longitudinally movable sleeve member 63 carrying at one end a square nut 54 which engages the square cross section portion 62 of said shaft 58. The opposite end of the sleeve 63 carries a spiral-nut 65 which embraces a spiral portion 66 formed in the exterior surface of the hollow shaft 52, see Figs. 9, 10 and 12. The sleeve 63 is mounted for axial rotative movement, as well as longitudinal sliding movement. From this construction it will be seen that whenthe shaft 66 is rotated the sleeve 83 will rotate with it, and therefore will not be displaced longitudinally. When however, the sleeve 63 is shifted longitudinally in one direction or the other by reason of the engagement of the spiral nut 65 with the spiral formation 66 of shaft 52, said shaft will be rotatively shifted or moved,

thereby rotatively displacing the inner shutter-v member I3 correspondingly and with relation to the outer shutter member 56.

when shaft N is rotated the sleeve 63 will be rotated without however, rotating the nut II since said nut is carried within a sleeve coupling 1, within the open end of which the sleeve 83 extends; but the sleeve will be rotated by reason of the engagement of the square nut N with I the square portion 82 of shaft 5|, thereby rotating the two shutter members coincidentally.

The relative rotative adjustment of the two shutter membersis effected through the longitudinal'shifting movements of sleeve 63. This sleeve maybe adjusted longitudinally in many 1 different ways, the purpose of the longitudinal adjustment being to relatively position the shutter disks with reference to each other, so as to effect the desired degree of opening of theshutl5 ter fromzero degrees up to the maximum of 180. I have shown one form of control of the longitudinal position of sleeve '3 which is effected by manual operation, through a rotatively dis-. placeable hand operated setting. disk 8. This setting disk is carried within a casing is, suitably mounted upon the casing exteriorly thereof, see Figs. 12 and 13. -The setting disk 6| is provided with an operating knob or handle ID, by which it may be rotatively displaced. The setting disk is mounted upon a shaft II which extends through the wall of the camera casing and on which is mounted a cam sleeve 12. A roller or other suitable device 13 carried by sleeve H is arranged to engage within the, cam slot 15 of the cam sleeve. This cam slot, when said sleeve 12 is rotated, will cause the sleeve 14 to travel back and forth along its supportingstud shaft 16,'said stud shaft being suitably mounted in supports 11, 11 mounted within the camera casing. The-sleeve H is provided with an extension which works within an annular groove in a spool 18 mounted upon the end of sleeve 63.

By this arrangement when the setting disk 60 is rotatively adjusted the sleeve 63 will be shifted or moved endwise in one direction or the other according to the direction of rotative adjustment of said disk. If shifted in one direction or the other, said sleeve will effect a rotative displacement of shaft 51 with relation to the shaft 58, thereby varying correspondingly the area of shutter opening, the opening being increased when the sleeve 83 is shifted in one direction, and decreased when shifted in the other direction.

It is desirable and important to provide means whereby the camera operator may constantly be apprised of the relative positions of the shutters; that is, of the area of opening afforded by the shutters. To accomplish this result, I associate with the setting disk Bl, a dial arrangement having suitable graduations as indicated at 80, which, by reason of the position of the setting disk OI, reveals to the camera operator at all times not only the extent of relative adjustment of the shutters, but also .the duration to the actual fraction of a second of each individual exposure. The'outer graduations of thedial are provided to indicate the arc of the shutter opening, while the inner ring of graduations indicate'the duration of the individual exposures. I prefer to employ black, and white surfaces in connection with the indicating device, the dial graduations beingbe dedrable to effect the u shifting of the position of the sleeve '0 automatically, the automatic operation however, 'being under the control of the operator. I have shown a simple arrangement for accomplishing this result wherein I mount upon the shaft H a spur wheel 80', of large diameter, which is adapted to be engaged and driven by one or the other indicated at 83, and said sleeve is shiftable by means of a pin or stud 84, see Figs. 10 and 32 engaging in an annular groove of a, collar 85 carried by the sleeve of gear 8|. The pin 84 is arranged to be shifted as occasion may require from the exterior of the camera casing as, for example, by means of one or the other of pushbnttons 86, 86 against the action of a suitably disposed spring which normally retainsthe drive gears 8|, 82 in neutral or idle position with reference to 80. When, however, push button 88 is pressed inwardly the sleeve of gear ti and the sleeve of gear 82 will be shifted so as to cause gear 82 to. mesh with and drive gear 80. When push button 86 is pressed inwardly the parts mentioned will be shlftedtowards the left as viewed in Fig. 32 so as to cause gear 8| to mesh with and drive gear -Ill in the opposite direction.' In Fig. '10, the

parts are shown in normal or neutral position, that is, in the position in which neither of gears l2, nor II are meshed with the gear 00'. The gear 82 is carried to slide upon a short stud shaft H. The sleeve which carries the gear 82 carries also a gear 88, which remainsin constant mesh with gear 8| and is driven therebybut in reverse direction from thatin which gear 8| is driven.-.

The bracket formed by the side plates or collars ll, 85', engage the ends of the sleeve gear'8l, 88, thereby causing all these parts to move together as a unit when one or the other of the buttons l6, a is pushed inwardly. When either of the buttons is released after being depressed; the gear 62,.or gear 8 I, is shifted back into normal, neutral position with reference to gear 00*. The gear is constantly driven by reason of the meshing of gear iii in either of its positions with the gear 88, which is connected to sleeve carryin gear 8!. The gear BI is of sufllcient axial length .-The'purpose of this is that this gearis intended to actuate thecam sleeve 12 through only one rotation in one direction or the other, or possibly less than'one complete rotation, to effect a longitudinal movement of sleeve 63 to the respective limits of such movement in opposite directions.

The teeth of gear are omitted at the extremities of the sector-portion of said gear, so that when the sleeve 83 is contfolled automatically through the operation or control of push button and the gearing controlled thereby, and when the sleeve 3 reaches the limit of its control, the gear teeth of gear 80" will have passed the point where driving connection-is effected with gears "LII and the longitudinal adjusting movement of sleeve OI will be arrested.

It is important, to eliminate or reduce the friction as much as possible of the rotative and loncontrol devices. .many different ways.

shown, see Figs. 9 and 12, wherein a ball bearing 9 gitudinal movements of the sleeve in order to secure a smooth, easy operation of the shutter This can be accomplished in A simple arrangement is structure indicated generally at 89 is provided within which the sleeve 63 is permitted to rotate and through which thesaid sleeve is permitted to slide. This ball bearing device, see particularly Fig. 12,- consists of ring members 90, 9|, mounted 19 in a recess formed in supporting bracket 11, and

held therein by means of a threaded cap member 92. The bearing rings 80,, 9| have plane inclined surfaces on their opposed or proximate faces,

thereby forming an equilateral triangular race- 1.5;,-

way, within which the antifriction bells of the bearing are held. The result of this structure is to provide three bearing surfaces or points of a contact for each ball of 'the ball bearings.

I prefer to form the opposed faces of the bear- 2;)

ing rings with an inclination of approximately 60. The three contacts provided for each ball I are, respectively, one on each ring and one on the sleeve; the contacts on the rings being on the in- These three contact 25.;

clined faces of said rings. points of course, are-spaced apart. This structure sec lres a most eflicient anti-friction bearing not only for the rotative movement of the sleeve, but also for the sliding movements thereof. ,These sliding movements or rotative move- 30 ments are in one direction or the other, and avoids any possibility of causing or permitting Jamming of the balls. Other andordinary ball bearings may also be provided for the shafts 58 and 5!. I have already referred to one of said 35.;

bearing for, the inner shaft-l8. This makesa very,

emcientand effective bearing structure for said shafts.

It may happen that the automatic shutter control mechanism will get out of working order by reason of the gears Jammingor getting broken, or'otherwise. Should such an exigency arise, it is important to provide means whereby the camera is not entirely put out of commission. In accordance with my invention, therefore, I propose to provide means whereby in case of jamming or otherderangement of the automatic shutter control devices, the same may be disconnected leaving the shutter control free to be adjusted and operated manually through control handle 10 and control disk 68. In one form of the apparatus for accomplishing this, see Figs. 82- and 33 wherein provision is made for driving the gear 8 I; or the sleeve which carries it, by means ofa ratchet clutch consisting of a bow-spring 96 fastened at one end to a convenient part of the driven shaft member "and having its free end extending into engagement, in the manner of a pawl, with a shoulder II on the sleeve which carries'the gear 8|. I rangement by means of which the gear 8| is driven through the spring 96. In case of jam-- ming of the gearing referred to, all that is necessary' to be done is to remove the bow spring 88,

thereby throwing out of commission the auto- 79.

Thus I provide a safety ar-- 79.

matic shutter control mechanism but the manual shutter control device remains in complete working operation.

' In the operation of cameras it is desirable to register the number of pictures taken and also the footage of film used.

I have shown a counter or register mechanism wherein two registering devices are mounted within the casing. The registering device 98, see Fig. 6, constitutes a counter for the individual pictures taken, while the register device 98 constitutes a counter for the footage of film employed. These devices are disposed within the casing 30 of the camera so that counter wheels may be disclosed through openings or windows in the easing, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. Standard forms of counter devices may be employed and as such structures are well known and form no part in themselves of my present invention, I have not shown the details thereof.

The counters may be driven or actuated by any suitable arrangement of drive gearing or mechanism. In practice I prefer to drive the counters through gearing from the drive shafts of the shutter devices, while at the same time providing for the manual resetting of the counters. To this end provision is made for actuating the counters in resetting from a point exteriorly of the camera casing.

I have shown a simple arrangement of gearing for actuating the counters consisting of a shaft I00, which is mounted in bearings IOI, I02, see Figs. 6 and 9. The bearing I02 is carried by a partition plate I03 of the casing. The bearing MI is mounted in a bracket secured to a convenient wall in the camera. The outer end of shaft I is made accessible from outside of the casing for manual actuation when required. Mounted upon shaft I 00 is a gear wheel I04 with which meshes thedrive gear I05 carried by inner shutter shaft 58 (see Figs. 6 and 12). Connected to and driven by gear I04 is a bevel gear I06 also mounted on shaft i 00, which, in turn, meshes with and drives a gear I01 on a counter shaft I08. This counter shaft carries spiral gears I 09, I I 0.

The spiral gear I09 meshes with and drives a' spiral gear I I I on the counter device 98, while the spiral gear I i 0 meshes-with and drives a spiral gear II2 on the actuating shaft of counter 99. For the individual picture counter 98, the ratio of gears I 09, III, is 1 to 1, so that each separate picture is registered on counter 98 for each complete actuation of the apparatus. Where sixteen pictures are made on each foot and half length of film, that is, where unusually large pictures are made as hereinbefore described, the gear ratio between the gears H0, H2 is 3 to 32 for the film footage counter device 99. This structure, arrangement and gear ratio, insures an accurate count for each individual picture taken and also for the footage of film used, whether the apparatus is operated from the main power shaft 41 or whether it is operated through shaft I00.

I will now describe the arrangement of the film feeding mechanism and associated devices.

In Fig. 8, I have indicated by dotted lines the course taken by the film when threaded through a camera from the carrying reel magazine 3| to the take-up reel magazine 32 (see Fig. 1). The film from the carrying reel passes from the magazine 3i through the slot of opening I I3, (see Figs. 7 and 8) and inside the casing passes over a guide roller III, thence to and partially around the main film feed sprocket I I5, being held to the sprocket by guide rollers I I6, carried by an eccentric actuated bracket II1. From the main film feed sprocket H5, the film is formed into the usual upper loop indicated at H0, thence passes across the aperture, and is then formed into the lower loop indicated at 9, thence again to and 5 partially around the main film feed sprocket III, being held thereto by the rollers I20, carried in an eccentrically mounted bracket I2I. Thence the film passes around the train of guide rolls I22, and out through the casing slot I20 to the take-up reel. The structure of main feed sprocket III and the holding rolls H6, I20 and brackets II1, I2I associated with said sprockets may be of any suitable structure. The arrangement shown is one of a well known type and arrangement and the details thereof form no part of my present invention.

It will be understood that the film is fed through the camera by any suitable or well known type of film feeding mechanism. I have shown an ordinary type of intermittent movement I10, which is actuated by the usual star and driver mechanism contained in a casing HI, and driven by gearing I35, see Figs. 10 and 18.

It is desirable to facilitate the threading of the film around and to efiiciently hold it upon the intermittent sprocket I10. To accomplish this I provide a shiftable guide plate I12, which is mounted to slide in suitable guides found in the camera casing at a point opposite the intermittent sprocket. This guide plate, when in raised position serves to hold the film in engagement with the teeth of the intermittent sprocket. For this purpose a presser roller I11 is mounted upon the guide plate and the film passes between this roller and the sprocket. In order to initially thread the film over the sprock-' et the guide plate I12 is lowered so as to afford space for the film to clear the sprocket teeth. When the film is passed partially around the sprocket with the sprocket teeth properly engaging in the perforations of the film, the guide plate is raised into its normal position thereby bringing the roller into position to press and hold the film in its engagement with the sprocket. This guide plate is retained in its raised position by a detent I14, carried by a spring I13, see Figs. 11 and 18. I

As I have hereinbefore mentioned it is of great importance to accurately position the film with relation to the aperture plate and aperture, and to uniformly adjust or center the film with relation to the aperture, and when so adjusted and centered it is important to provide means for efficiently and rigidly clamping the film in its adjusted and centered position in the aperture frame. The tendency oi the film to bend or bulge/when its edges are clamped to the aperture frame and occupies a centered position across the aperture, is a fact which is well recognized in the operation of motion picture cameras. When it is realized that the centering or automatic adjustment of the film, as well as the clamping and releasing action, must be accomplished for each successive exposure of the film 65 through the aperture, that is, for each picture to be taken, it will be understood that any derangement of the film out of uniform registering position for each successive picture, and any derangement occasioned by the film bulging 70 transversely of its width, becomes a serious defect endangering the proper focussing of the camera with respect to the film, and impairing the results of the exposure. Moreover, a reciprocatory or other movement of the clamping 75 v in.

I device, in'efiecting the clamping and releasing of the film, tends to produce air cushion efiects' tures, features and devices which I have incorit occupies a position in the aperture plate. The

edge portions of the'film are received against suitable surfaces of the aperture plate. The aperture plate I23 is provided with perforations I23 at opposite sides thereof, over or across which apertures the usual perforations in the edges of the film pass. In order to effectively position.

.and adjust the film uniformly with relation to the aperture plate I provide registering or .centering pins I21. The registering pins I21 are 1 preferably pointed or tapered so as to easily enter the film perforations and thence pass on into the openings I26 in theaperture plate. In this II-way, the position of the film is accurately, efficiently and uniformly positioned and adjusted in the aperture plate across the aperture. The

centering or registering pins I21 may be shifted a or moved into and out of film registering position in many different ways. I-have shown a simple arrangement wherein said pins are carried in a-frame I28 'which is suspended to rock about the axis of a supporting shaft member I23, see Figs. 19 and 20. The frame I23 is provided with a pin I30 carrying aroller I3I, which roller is arranged to, operate within a cam slot I32 formed in a rotatively driven member I33. This 7 cam member is mounted upon shaft I34, whereby it is driven when said shaft is rotated. The shaft I34 may be driven from any convenient rotating part of the apparatus. A simple drive gearingarrangement is shown wherein the.said' shaft'is driven through Intermeshing ears I respectively carried by shafts 43 and I34. Ifdesired, and as shown, a balance wheel I38 may be mounted upon shaft I34 to secure steadiness of the operation thereof.

Whenshaft I34 is rotated the swinging frame I23'c'arry'ipg the register pins I21 is rocked or swung ahout the. axis of the shaft I23, from which said frame is suspended, by the engagement of the roller in the cam slot I32. In this manner vibratory movement is imparted'to the frame I23, causing'the register pins I2'I to pe.-.

2- riodically advance into and through the film perforations and thencefinto the openings I23 in the aperture frame, thereby accurately ad-.

justing and registering in uniform posltionand relation the film for each exposure. Thus any.

compensated by the centering action of the reg-I 'i'ster pins when projected through the film per- 79 forations. It will be'un'derstood that uneven action bxerted upon the film of the intermittent sprocket willcause the perforations in the film to fail to properly register with the centering and hence said pins when moved towards 7s their centering position in engagement in the forced through the perforations in oif-center refilm apertures are liable to injure the perforations, or even to punch new perforations in the film. This would greatly impair the efiiciency of the feed of the film and the engagement of its perforations upon the teeth of the sprocket and it also is liable to cause an unsteadyv picture'to be made. To avoid this difficulty I provide an adjustment for the frame'l23, whereby the position of the pins may be raised or lowered. To this end said frame I23 is carried by a sleeve 10 I31, see Fig. 19, withinwhich sleeve is mounted a second eccentric sleeve I33, which latter sleeve is mounted directly upon the shaft I23.

By rotatively moving the eccentric sleeve I33 upon shaft I23 the sleeve I31 which carries the 15 pin frame I23 is adjusted, as will be clearly un-' derstood by referring to Figs. 18 and 19. The slot and pin arrangement indicated at I33, Fig. 17, aifords means for effecting the rotative adjustmerit of theeccentric sleeve I38...

In order to still further guard against any injury to the film perforations by the action of the centering pins; I propose to provide a surplus of length of film between the line of action of the centering pins and approximately the horizontal 26 plane through the axis of the intermittent sprocket. To accommodate this surplus length of film the lower edge of the aperture plate I2! is cut away or beveled outwardly, as shown at I13, Figs. 17 and 18, and the upper edge of the guide 30 plate I I2 is likewise cut away or beveled as at I13. By adjusting the centering pins, as above described, so that their pointed ends will enter the film perforations at a point nearer-the lower edges of said perforations than the upper edges thereof, the filmwill be drawn or pulled downwardly by the pins a very short distance thereby producing the surplus offilm length referred to. This also prevents the centering pins from being lation, thereby enlarging or tearing the perforations, as well as avoiding the possibility of the pins forming new perforations in the film, resulting in either case in injuring the film or losingv uniform registration of consecutive pictures.

I will .now describe one arrangement embodying my invention for clamping and holding the film in position after it has been properly centered by the centering and register pins above referred to.

One'of the objects sought to be accomplished is 5Q to clamp and hold and maintain the film in absolutely fixed rigid position during the period of exposure'thereof in the taking of pictures, and to prevent any outward bulging or movement of the film when in its clamped position, during exposure. These results are exceedingly important inorder to avoid the possibility of impairing the pictures. This is particularly true where films of extra width, or pictures of extra size, .are taken in the use of the camera for motion picture pur 60..

poses. v In carrying out my invention in the particular manner shown, see Figs. 15, 16,18, 21, 22, 28, 24,

25 and 26, the side edges of the film are forced.

against inclined surfaces I40, see Figs. 15 and 18,

23, and 24, constituting the edge borders of the. aperture in the aperture plate I25. When the edges of the film are .clamped against the inclinedsurface I30 by means of the clamp plate I, a

. slight bend outwardly is imparted to the film edges.

The clamping edges of the clamp plate I. are inclined to correspond with the inclined surfaces I40 in the aperture plate I25. The central por tion of the clamp plate, that is, the portionthere of which covers the aperture, is. fiat. -By reason is bulging inwardly of the film is prevented. In

other words, the bending of the edges of the film imposes a stress or strain inwardly on the film, as indicated by the arrows on Fig. 23, but such inward bulging of the film is prevented, and hence the film is held; uniformly in a straight plane across the aperture by the central portion of the clamp plate. Stationarily mounted upon a suitable, bracket I42, see Fig. 24, is mounted a plate I43. Carried by this plate I43 are a series of buttons I44, having reduced ends I45 disposed opposite holes or openings indicated at I45 in the clamp plate MI. The reduced ends I45 of the buttons protrude through the,openings I46 of the clamp plate when the latter is withdrawn from its clamping position. When, however, the clamp plate, I4I is advanced into film clamping and holding position, the film or the portion thereof across the aperture, lies fiat against the fiat central portion of the clamp plate. In this clamping position, as shown inFig. 16, the clamp plate just clears the reduced ends I45 of the button. By reason of this arrangement the film, while in movement under the action of the intermittent sprocket, is prevented from rubbing against the clamp plate and'hence the danger of scraping or injuring the film by frictional contact with the clamp plate is avoided.

It is important to prevent any air to be trapped between the rear surface of the film and the front surface of the clamp plate I4I which is brought into supporting and holding contact with the film. Since a rapid periodic motion is im parted to the film clamp plate in the operation of the apparatus, more or less of an air pump action is created, which, unless prevented,'would tend to form an undesirable air cushion between the film and the clamp plate tending to impose an outward stress upon the film to bulge it outwardly thereby impairing or destroying the proper focussing of the picture, particularly in the middle portion of the picture. The holes I46 which receive the ends of the buttons I44, serve also the purpose of preventing the formation of such air cushion action. To insure the elimination of air cushion between the film and its clamp plate, additional holes I 41, see Fig. 26, are formed in the clamp plate.

If desired the surface of the clamp plate may be corrugated transversely as indicated at I48, the corrugations being pressed inwardly from the outer or film engaging surface of the plate, see

Fig. 25, and some of the holes I41 and formed through the bottoms of the corrugations I40. This not only serves to stiffen the body of the clamp plate, but affords additional means for preventing the trapping of air between the clamp plate and the surface of the film, the channels forming in effect passages between the perforations I41.

The clamp plate I4I is carried by two pairs of swinging links I40, I50,'see Fig. 21. The pair of links I48 are suspended from, or form part of a sleeve I52 carried by a supporting stud shaft IBI, while the links I50 are carried by, or form part of, a sleeve I03 mounted upon a stud shaft I54. The lengths of the links I49, I50 from their pivoted axes I5I, I54 to their points of connection I55, with the clamp plate are equal, thus constituting a parallel movement which insures the movement of the clamp plate in truly accurate parallel positions to its film clamping surfaces. One of the links I50, see Figs. 21, 22, is of increased size in order to strengthen the same, and is'also extended to carry a roller I56 arranged to engage in cam slot I51, in a cam member I58, mounted on shaft I34. When the shaft I34 is rotated, swinging movement is imparted to the links I50, I49 whereby the clamp plate is moved into and out of clamping relation with respect to the film. The shaft I34 may be a part of the star drive film sprocket mechanism of the Geneva movement for the intermittent movement of the film, which is ordinarily employed in connection with the operation of motion picture machines, and which movement I do not deem it necessary to describe herein. The upper and lower edges of the clamp plate are inwardly curved, as indicated at I50, see Figs. 21 and 25, to facilitate the passage of the film through the machine. The side edges of the lower portion of the clamp plate are cut-away as indicated at I60, Fig. 26, to accommodate the sprocket wheels of the intermittent or Geneva movement.

In Figs. 27 and 28 a slightly modified arrangement for'the avoidance of air pockets between the clamping plate I H and the film is shown. In this arrangement I propose to create a vacuum to act upon the rear surface of the film to draw the same tightly and fiatwise against the outer surface of the clamp plate, thereby preventing any outer bulging of the film. In this form the edges of the film are not clamped against inclined surfaces, such as shown at I40, Figs. 23, 24, but are clamped fiatwise against the surface of the edges of the aperture plate I25. In the modified arrangement shown, the clamp plate, or the surface thereof against which the rear surface of the film lies, is fiat, but is slightly depressed in the portion of the area thereof which lies over the aperture, as indicated at ISI, see Figs. 27 and 28. A transverse rib I62 is formed in the clamp plate. This rib is pressed outwardly from the depressed portion IOI of the plate, and makes bearing contact against the central portion of the rear surface of the film. A bellows pump indicated at I63 is employed to create a vacuum at the rear of the film, and of the film clamping portion of the plate, that is, inwardly of the depressed portion ISI of the clamping plate. The clamping plate is perforated so that the vacuum action created by the bellows may be exerted upon the surface of the film. The bello'ws may be actuated in any suitable or convenient way. A simple arrangement is shown wherein a cam member I64 is mounted upon shaft I34, and, in a cam slot I05 of said member operates a roller carried by an arm I00 connected to the bellows as at I61. From this description it will be seen that the depression in the clamp plate forms, in efi'ect, a suction chamber on which the bellows acts. In fact, the transverse rib I02 makes two suction chambers separated from each other by said rib.

In the film clamping arrangement hereinbefore described the tendency of the film, or the portion thereof which co era the aperture, to bulge outwardly, is counteracted by forming longitudlnal bends outwardly at the side edges of the film when clamped to the aperture plate. 76 

